The search for the new Miss Northern Ireland will kick off in Belfast next week.

Beauties from across the country will go head-to-head in the first heat of the competition which is set to take place at 21 Social in Belfast city centre on Thursday, February 26.

Judges for the event, which is organised by modelling agency ACA Models, will whittle down hundreds of young women throughout 13 heats ahead of the final in May.

The winner will take over the crown from current Miss Northern Ireland, Rebekah Shirley.

The event in Belfast is the first of 13 regional heats scheduled to take place across Northern Ireland including Antrim, Derry, Lisburn, Ballymena, Omagh, Enniskillen, Banbridge, Dungannon, Cookstown, Magherafelt and Bangor.

Two finalists from each heat will be chosen to take part in the grand finale at the Europa Hotel in Belfast on May 11.

Contest organiser Alison Clarke said: "We are looking forward to meeting lots of new talent at the upcoming regional heats. Our talent scouts have been out and about over the last few weeks and, so far, we have had great response."

Current title holder Rebekah Shirley added: “I’ve had the best year of my life representing Northern Ireland at charity and numerous events throughout 2014.

"The most special of which was the Miss World Final in London where I had an unbelievable time, I learnt a lot about the other contestants life’s and countries and realised the humungous efforts and lengths that the Miss World family go to help the lives and raise awareness of those less fortunate than ourselves throughout the world”

Entrants should send a photograph with their name and address to, Therapie Miss Northern Ireland Contest, 381 Beersbridge Road, Belfast, BT5 5DT or email bookings@acamodels.com. Entrants can also enter online via the Therapie website or the Miss Northern Ireland website.